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You’d imagine credibility and likability would rank highly when establishing a new AFL club. Particularly, in a market where you’re hard-pressed to find a store that actually sells an Aussie Rules football.
The flimsy pretext on which Greater Western Sydney was born – essentially to go for rugby league’s jugular – was morally bankrupt in the first place.
And certainly a money pit, considering that after 30 years, the incumbent Sydney club’s buoyancy still relies on handouts and impressive ongoing finals returns.
Then, there was the misguided notion that Sydney folk cared for the provocative antics of an eccentric coach from Melbourne, who was considered past it five years ago.
But if Kevin Sheedy as a coach/marketing tool doesn’t rankle, then surely making one of the NRL’s best young talents among the highest paid AFL players in the game, was not a way to win friends and influence people.
Well, I guess Israel Folau did start to show something in the third-rate competition in which GWS struggled to be competitive this year.
Signing Tom Scully was at last a win for the Giants, as long as the six million dollar man’s knee holds out long enough for a bionic replacement.
Whether ‘unretired’ recruits Chad Cornes, Brogan, McDonald and Power are worth anything beyond ‘experience’ remains to be seen.
But the latest ripping yarn – with Phil Scully’s $100K scouting role – goes beyond the pale.
While including the sum in their salary cap might not equate to a technical breach of the malleable salary cap rules, why would a club feel compelled to employ a player’s father in the first place?
It smells like yesterday’s felafel.
In these situations, is the AFL ever going to do anything but give itself a slap on the wrist? But really, should anyone be surprised when Judd’s Visy deal is considered kosher, yet the door is closed on other clubs attempting the same.
The timing of Dale Holmes’ departure may be coincidental. For the CEO to not even make it to the start-line is yet another farcical chapter.
It could be argued the AFL now ‘owns’ virtually half the clubs in various ways and degrees, but with the appointment of long-time AFL executive David Matthews to replace Holmes, is there even an arm’s length relationship with the governing body?
Where in the world is another football competition operated in this fashion?
Remarkably, the Giants’ admission to the AFL was unanimously supported by the clubs – even the likes of North, Richmond, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs.
Could they not see the immediate monetary gain would lead to such pain as they seek elusive success and viability?
Whereas the Gold Coast Suns won admiration for their brave efforts and exciting young talent in their inaugural year, I wouldn’t expect much sympathy for this devilish AFL concoction in 2012 and beyond.
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